State High School Graduation Rate Remains Consistent

The following press release was issued by the Maryland State Department of Eduction. For more information, contact Samantha Foley at 410-767-0482.

The percentage of Maryland students receiving a high school diploma in four years remains consistently high, according to data released today by the Maryland State Department of Education.

The four-year cohort graduation rate was 86.9 percent in 2019 — nearly 5 points better than the 82 percent rate registered in 2010, and similar to the 2018 rate of 87.1 percent. The 2019 cohort dropout rate was 8.4 percent, identical to 2018.

“We continue to set high standards for obtaining a Maryland High School Diploma,” said Dr. Karen Salmon, State Superintendent of Schools. “A high school diploma is the important first step to a successful journey toward post-secondary education or employment.”

Also released was the five-year cohort graduation rate–the percentage of students who graduate in five years. That number--88.9 percent-- also remained essentially steady compared to last year.

The graduation and dropout rates for student groups also held largely constant from previous years, although gaps between groups persist. Students with disabilities and students who are English language learners reflected improved five-year graduation rates and decreased dropout rates since last year.

Maryland reports cohort graduation rates in line with federal reporting standards, which follows a set group of students from freshman year through their senior year.

The new high school and system data will be available on the Maryland Report Card website. The 2019 Maryland School Report Card is available at MDReportcard.org.